Rupert Murdoch urges America to wake up as he joins gun control debate with tweet about New York firefighter killings

Rupert Murdoch urges America to ‘wake up’ as he joins gun control debate with tweet about New York firefighter killings

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UPDATED:

18:42 GMT, 25 December 2012

Getting involved: Murdoch has made it clear that he is in favor of stricter gun control laws in the U.S.

Media mogul Rupert Murdoch waded into the American gun control debate with a Twitter message on Christmas about the most recent shooting.

'NY Xmas ruined by lunatic shooting 4 firemen, killing two. Shooter killed before, jailed, later released on medical grounds. Must wake up,' he wrote just after noon in the East Coast.

His tweet referenced the Christmas Eve shooting when gunman William Spengler set up a trap for emergency responders, killing two, after the arrived at his burning house in Webster, New York.

The case is still being investigated as police found a note left by 62-year-old Spengler before he killed himself as the fire he set brought seven houses to the ground.

Spengler, who shot himself dead after a brief firefight with police, was previously convicted of killing his grandmother and spent time behind bars. As a result of that felony, he is not legally allowed to own guns.

However, somehow, he was able to obtain an assault rifle – the same type of weapon that was used to murder 20 first graders and six adults at Sandy Hook Elementary School on December 14. Police say Spengler also had a handgun.

This is not the first time that Murdoch has weighed in on the ongoing debate over gun control in the wake of the Newtown shooting.

Calling out inaction: Murdoch cited the Christmas Eve shooting in Westbury, New York during his Tweet

Recent death: Murdoch has been spending time in Australia because of the death of his 103-year-old mother Dame Elisabeth Murdoch and was seen with his wife Wendi at the public memorial service in Melbourne

Immediately following the December 14 massacre which left 20 children dead along with six school teachers, the 81-year-old Australian called for a ban on automatic weapons like the one used by the shooter.

'Terrible news today. When will politicians find courage to ban automatic weapons As in Oz after similar tragedy,' he tweeted that day.

Murdoch was referring to the Port
Arthur massacre in 1996 where 35 people were killed at a tourist site
and prompted stringent gun control laws and a buyback campaign that got
650,000 automatic and semi-automatic guns off the streets.

So
far, American politicians have called for increases to gun control-
with Senator Dianne Feinstein declaring that she will push to reinstate
the assault weapons ban when the Senate returns from Christmas break-
but little action has taken place.

Political pressure: The 81-year-old clearly was not satisfied by the President's post-shooting action

Another point of reference: Murdoch referenced the 1996 Port Arthur shooting where 35 people were killed that prompted strict gun control laws in Australia

The only official move has been made by President Obama who announced that Vice President Joe Biden will be heading up the administration's task force on the roots of gun violence.

That didn't appear to temper Murdoch, however. The press barron praised the President's speech at the interfaith memorial service in Newtown but still pushed the need for 'bold leadership action'.

'Obama handing over gun issue management to Biden. Now Xmas and danger all anger will subside and fade until next horror,' Murdoch wrote on the 20th.